22nd August
Hey guys! This is the prologue of a story I have been co-writing with @Wingblade2. It's about a boy that is transformed into a dragon and forced into a journey of a life time. I'm putting the prologue on here, so if you like it go and have a look. I'll put the link in the comments below
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The peaceful moonlit night was shattered as a woman screamed through the town of Lysia.
"Help! Help! My... my boy is gone! He went off to the forest and never came back! Then I heard a terrible roar!"
The town started to panic as the thought of a terrifying monster living in such close proximity to the town settled in. It started to come alive when people began waking up at the news.
"What do you mean a monster is living in the valley? There hasn't been a monster in this valley for 400 years!" Shouted an old man, staggering out of his old home.
As if to prove everyone it's real, a thunderous roar rang loose across the sky, shattering a few windows, glass tinkling as it hit the ground. The ground started to shake slowly as the sound wave of the roar reverberated through the valley. Cries of terror followed as the town was wound up in panic.
"By the Goddess...." Said the old man, watching a large dark shape fly over the town.
A loud screech sounded throughout the sky. More screams followed as the rest of the town was woken by the sound. The guards on the walls panicked, running for the cover of their barracks. A monster like this hadn't been seen around the town for many years, and now that it was suddenly back, with no explanation and no warning.
"Get back up on the walls!" A brave captain commanded, sending his forces to the top of the walls.
The guards rallied and soon arrows were flying to bring down the beast, but none were hitting their mark. It was to fast, to agile in the air. The night sky didn't help, making the creature hard to see in the air. They were unsure of what it actually was, but the silent thought of a dragon was present in everyone's mind. If that was so however, then this was unlikely a fight that they would win.
Nobody heard the sorrowful cries of the beast due to their minds full of fear and adrenaline. The loud roars that it made generated the picture that it was a mindless, bloodthirsty beast. A cry of pain echoed from its mouth as a lucky arrow hit it in a soft spot under its hind leg. Cheers sounded as its dark form disappeared into the night sky.
*Boy's POV*
Everything seemed strange. Sounds were intensified, everything smelled of this strange musk. And everything hurt, like thousands of daggers had pierced my body. Why was this happening? What had happened? A strange gurgling sound rumbled through my throat so strange it startled me. I opened my eyes slowly, colour flooding my vision just as intensely as my other senses. Another strange growl followed my surprise.
With a moan I tried to push myself to my feet, and stumbled. I looked down at my arms... wait, what? Instead I saw a pair of dangerously sharp claws connected to an animalistic paw. Admiral blue scales wound up the leg, shining in the dying afternoon sun. With a screech I jumped back, flailing with an unfamiliar body. Strange appendages on my back flapped helplessly in the air and at different times, throwing me back further. With a grunt I landed, limbs splayed harmlessly in the air like a newborn cub trying its first steps.
With a grunt I rolled to my stomach and slowly pushed myself up. What had happened to me? One moment I had been a normal human boy, wandering the forest looking for some berries for the party next week, and then there was this strange pain, and then... and then... this! What happened! It was like I had turned into a lizard or something. In fact, now that I think about it, I am some sort of lizard.
I looked over new body with interest, this time trying not to freak out. The same admiral blue scales covered my flanks, travelling down to a lengthy tail that was curled somewhat in an uncomfortable way. Leathery blue wings that were a slightly lighter hue than the rest of my body hung limply from my sides, the tips dragging in the dirt. It tickled slightly. And I was a lot bigger, like, big as a house kind of bigger. Not one of those fancy mansions that rich people lived in, more like the size of the cottage my mum, sister and me lived in. Still, it was pretty cool.
With a snort from my new muzzle I unwound my tail, focusing on it with all my strength. It was strange to have more than four limbs, but as I began to take a few steps my body instinctively made the small adjustments I needed with my tail. My wings spread out like a tent, balancing me out as I nearly face planted when I took a step forward, only taking a step with one of my legs instead of all four.
"Four legs, not two," I mumbled to myself in a rather grumbly voice, another surprise in this new body.
I focused on moving two legs at a time. The two on the right, then the two on the left. It was slow at first, but as I got more used to the feeling I began to move faster until I was almost running around the clearing I was in. Amazing! I could literally feel everything around me. The ground beneath the pads of my feet. The silent scents that assaulted my nostrils. The whispy breeze stroking my scales. I closed my eyes and without thinking flapped my wings. A simple movement that came naturally, and the ground left my feet.
It took a moment or two for me to actually realise what exactly was happening. When I opened my eyes I couldn't help but scream. My roar broke the heavy silence that had settled over the forest and a flock of birds fled from the trees, squawking out warnings to the rest of the forest. I plowed head first into a tree, and fell to the floor once again, grunting. My heart thumped heavily in my chest as I struggled to catch my breath. Had I just flown? I got to my feet easily and looked at my wings, and then at the sky. Lets try this again.
I shook myself off, getting rid of the final streams of surprise I had just felt. That was weird, I hadn't even tried to fly and yet I had done it. Maybe this time I won't scream. I focused my gaze on the sky and began to trot forward again. I raised my wings as high as I could and thrust them downwards, and shot upwards. A growl of surprise passed through me. That was... surprisingly easy.
My dragon body instantly made changes in the air, ones I wouldn't know how to make if it was just me. Dragon instincts I guess. My tail adjusted with the wind, every turn and twist making me change direction. I took another flap of my wings, rising above the forest canopy and into the air above. A strong updraft hit me, sending me high into the sky, and I couldn't help but roar. Not in fear this time, but in elation. This was amazing. Oh, how I wanted to show my family this.
I circled in the air and began to fly towards the village. The sun had set in the horizon and darkness had covered the forest in shadows. Funny how I used to be so scared of the forest but as a dragon I could see everything. Well, at least I think I was a dragon. No other lizard had shiny blue scales and wings. And maybe someone would be able to tell me what happened. As much as being a dragon was quite cool, something in me was scared that I wouldn't be able to change back.
I flew above my village, hoping to see if I can find my mother who had been with me in the forest, but something was scaring the town. Frowning I flew down to see what was wrong... and then they started shooting arrows at me. With a screech of surprise I stopped in midair and quickly flapped my way out of range.
"Stop! Stop!" I yelled at them, my deeper voice echoing through the air like a roar.
But it didn't work. They didn't hear me. More arrows shot into the sky, and I dodged out of the way. A few arrows ricocheted harmlessly from my scales, falling to the earth below. I continued to call out for them to stop, but they didn't listen. Suddenly a sharp pain pierced the armpit of my right foreleg, and I screamed.
Tears fell down my eyes as I turned away from the village. The stinging pain of an arrow embedded in my right foreleg tugged sharply at me. A sob escaped me, also sounding like a strange guttural growl. They had turned me away. They hadn't listened. Why? Weren't they supposed to protect us? They had just attacked me. I started crying uncontrollably as I flew towards the mountains that overlooked the village.
A cave caught my attention and I turned towards it. This being my first flight I really couldn't land right. Instead I opted for the crash landing and ended up in a crumbled heap. I crawled in, seeing it was big enough to hold my size. Without any care I collapsed to my stomach, the arrow shaft snapping as I did. I cried myself to sleep knowing I wouldn't see my 5 year-old little sister Tabitha again.
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So, what did you think :) If you enjoyed, please go and have a look at the rest of the book.